James Lillywhite's Cricketers' Companion 1885

58 paid three visits to England. Many of the best judges of cricket in Australia consider him a better bowler than S pofporth . This opinion may be well founded.so far as cricket in the colonies is concerned, but admirable bowler as he is, he has never in England proved himself to be S pofforth ’ s equal. Towards the end of the season he seemed stale and overdone, but during the months of May, June, and July he bowled in a style quite worthy of his reputation. In the three representative matches against England he met with more success than any other bowler on the side. His method is p e r f e c t I have never seen any one with a better delivery. Early in the trip his batting showed an immense improvement, but he did not maintain his form, and seemed to lose nearly all his hitting. Nobody on the side is a better field. GEORGE JOHN BONNOR (Victoria) was born at Bathurst, in New South Wales, on the 25tli of February, 1855. He never played for New South Wales in any inter-colonial match, and as a prominent cricketer he, too, has been associated with Victoria. He is a man of magnificent physique, standing 6 ft. 4 | in., but is at the same time free from anything like clumsiness or awkwardness. He is the hardest hitter in the world5, but with all his advantages, his batting last summer was a disappoint, ment. In the matches against the Players at Sheffield and the Oval he hit in wonderful style, but. as a set-off against his occasional successes lie had many failures. As a fieldsman he is still brilliant but uncertain. GEORGE GIFFEN (South Australia) was born on the 27th of March, 1859, and, with the exception of J arvis , is the only South Australian who has ever visited England. G iffkn can fairly claim to be the best all-round player in Australia. Alike as a batsman and field he is in the front rank. Few men can put so much work on the ball, but he lacks the command of pitch that would place him on an equality with either S poffortii or P almer . His second visit to England fully confirmed the high opinion formed of him by all good judges when he first came here in 1882. HENRY JAMES HERBERT SCOTT (Victoria) was born at Toorak, near Melbourne, on December 26th, 1858, and previous to last year had never visited England. His first appearance in an Australian team was a conspicuous success, and abundantly justified the confidence of those who urged his selection. Without playing a strictly orthodox game, he is undoubtedly a first-rate batsman, possessing strong defence and unlimited confidence. He does not drive much, his best strokes being a cut behind point, and a square leg hit. He is a capital field anywhere. WILLIAM MIDWINTER (Victoria) is so well known to English cricketers that very little need be said about him. As a batsman he played quite up to his reputation last summer, and continually rendered good service. His fielding, though safe enough, was not so brilliant as it used to be, and his bowling showed marked decline. In the early matches, however, his bowling was so little tried that he had not much chance of getting into form. WILLIAM HENRY COOPER (Victoria) Avas born at Maidstone, in Kent, on September 11,1849, but emigrated to Australia when he was